6
Ianto was satisfied to finally be in the pilot seat of the Away Vessel, heading deeper into the valley to scout for a Greenbelt. He had a feeling, had hope and was proven right as he came to an area with not only a large area of trees and grass, but also what looked like a natural spring feeding into a river.
Ianto touched down and Owen was out of the doors before they were fully open, running to check the water acidity. John called after him "Wow, think it's safe without a breather?"
Jack was in the jump seat and he had been quiet for most of the flight, still sensing Ianto's anger over earlier. Finally he glanced at him "I just … I almost lost you before because of those Bots and… sorry if I wanted to keep you in my pocket."
"I know. Drop it, you are just pissing me off now" Ianto replied sagely, removing his harness to go out and explore "come on. I see some fennel over there, let's see what other herbs are growing."
Jack accepted the change of subject, slipping after him to stand in the space he knew they would one day live in. It was about six football fields, lush and greener than a leprechauns… er… right. Well. Super green. Heh.
They found several other wild growing herbs, some wild flowers and even to Ianto's delight, daffodils out of season. This was all a good sign. Good soil, clean soil and there were definite signs of wildlife in the area too.
"So, if we park the Valiant over there on the edge in the trees, we have all this room to explore and live in" Owen said as he waved his hands about with childish glee "We can use the Valiant like the main building, slowly build out and around it?"
"Sounds good. We still have plenty of time yet, it's still cold out here" John answered as he stood looking around "Another year or so and it will be even more advanced."
"Agreed" Jack said with a nod of his head.
"Nice to know it's here, we have a fallback position if the Bots come" Ianto agreed as well, smiling now as he watched Owen stalk about measuring things with big strides that made no sense, he wrote nothing down and had a mind like a sieve. He would not even remember the location in five minutes. Kinda cute like a kid trying to look like his daddy.
"Right. Home" Jack said sternly and they all headed back for Thames House with a feeling of relief they had not known they needed so bad. They had a plan, a working plan now. For when it all went to shit.
And Ianto knew, sooner or later it would.
Those Bots would not leave them alone for ever. This was so far out, so far from the main areas that they could be safely tucked away and exist happily, even if they could not eradicate the Bots like Jack thought they could. Dreamer. Ianto knew these Bots were like tics. They were dug in and permanently a pain in the arse.
.
.
Owen presented the daisy to Mica who gasped with delight, accepting it like it was made of spun gold. She smelt it and whispered softly that it smelt of sunlight.
"Well it is getting lighter up top, every day it seems to be lighter. The Atmo is shaking off the debris bit by bit. I estimate another ten months… twelve on the outside and we might even get some plants established to see how they grow, analyze them in the soil and make sure we can actually eat them." Owen said softly "One day we might be living up there again sweetie."
"Wow" she sighed, leaning over to kiss his cheek then running to get a little glass of water for her precious flower.
"Do you mean that?" Martha asked as she sat nearby with her baby in her lap.
"Yeah, I do. We found a good spot. The Valiant has a landing pad, it has ample space for buildings to be erected, a spring with clear water I have tested and it seems to have a great PH level, land for animals, gardens. The whole thing. If we use the Valiant as our home, we have a wonderful back yard to raise the kids in. I estimate another two years tops and the atmo will be clean again. Maybe not what it completely was but good enough for us to all live naturally above groin." He assured her.
"What did it feel like? To see real grass. Not the stuff we grew down here… real grass?" she begged.
"Like waking up from a bad dream to find everything as we left it. The world is still there, even if it's just a little pocket of it" Owen assured her with a wide smile "We will be OK."
Ianto moved away from them to sit and gather Denny into his lap, the little boy listening intently while his baby bother played with some toys totally oblivious to things around him. "you OK Den-Dens?"
"We gonna go?" he asked in a small voice, his gaze boring into Ianto's.
"One day. Not now, not tomorrow but one day… yeah. An adventure, when baby bro there is big enough. Right? Because you will help us, right?" Ianto crooned, cuddling him to him tightly as he watched everyone else celebrate.
He did not feel the need to, he felt just pure relief that he had a backup plan to enact now.
Because sooner or later, those Bots would come.
He knew it.